“We are deeply troubled to learn of a McCarthyite campaign demanding Oxford University cancel a public event with director Ken Loach discussing his distinguished career in film. The campaign to silence a world-renowned artist, which has been active behind the scenes and which became public at the last minute, is using the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism to try to prevent a cultural event from taking place. If any further evidence were needed to demonstrate how a vaguely worded definition is being deployed to silence critics of Israeli policy towards Palestinians — then this is it. We have been warned by respected Palestinian academics, Israeli scholars, leading experts on antisemitism, dozens of progressive Jewish groups, and others that this definition is being used as a political weapon. We cannot fight racism, including antisemitism, by demonising and silencing supporters of Palestinian rights.”
Signed:
Hany Abu-Assad, filmmaker
Raed Andoni, filmmaker
Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian parliamentarian, scholar and civil society leader
Nahed Awwad, filmmaker
Victoria Brittain, journalist, author, playwright
Judith Butler, philosopher and gender theorist
David Calder, actor
Dame Carmen Callil, publisher, editor
Julie Christie, actor
Caryl Churchill, playwright
Steve Coogan, actor, comedian, producer
Dror Dayan, filmmaker, senior lecturer
Raymond Deane, composer, author
Esther Ruth Elliott, actor, director
Brian Eno, musician, producer
Peter Gabriel, musician, founder Womad music festival
Tony Graham, theatre director
Ohal Grietzer, composer and mixed-media performer
Barbara Harvey, civil rights and labor lawyer
Trevor Hoyle, novelist and radio dramatist
Ronnie Kasrils, former South African Government Minister
Mike Leigh, screenwriter, director
Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, South African Parliamentarian
Jean Said Makdissi, writer
Samir Makdissi, Professor Emeritus of Economics, AUB
Kika Markham, actor
Mai Masri, filmmaker
Thurston Moore, musician
David Morrisey, actor
Rebecca O’Brien, producer
Ruth Padel, poet
Maxine Peake, actor
Mark Rylance, actor
Alexei Sayle, comedian
Eyal Sivan, filmmaker
Rosemary Sayigh, journalist and scholar
Ahdaf Soueif, author, founder PalFest
Rima Tarazi, Palestinian pianist, composer and social activist
Harriet Walter, actor
Roger Waters, musician
Samuel West, actor, director
Rabbi Alissa Wise, deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace
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This has to be cold out for what it is.
As far as I know it’s still isn’t illegal yet, to criticise the Israeli government and it’s oppression of the Palestinian people.
This has to stop.
The only people who would categorize Ken Loach as anti-Semitic…are the anti-Semitic…
I stand with Ken! He has never been anti- Semitic! He stands for humanity against inequality and injustice
It is ludicrous that we have reached a point where such a great artist is so persecuted.
We have a most humanitarian human being who is also a wonderful director of important and profoundly educating films, etc. as well as entertaining! And very far removed from being an anti semite ! How ridiculous!!
Silencing voices is vile
This is deeply disturbing and should be stopped
Ken Loach is one of the most inspiring film makers , artist, activist. I have no words to describe third people in Oxford University that stopped him talking to students. It’s absolutely shameful.
Pay attention.
This man is on our side.
He cares, he has a big heart.
Suppressing him suppressed us all
WE ARE IN GRAVE DANGER
Yet Oxord Union were happy to host an event with Tommy Robinson…
Across the world the voices of intolerance and racism are on the rise. It is vital that clear voices for the poor, the oppressed and the anti racists are not silenced.
Ken Loach’s films are raw and show what life is really for many people in Britain. These students need to hear what he has to say.
To equate anti-injustices, committed by the expansionist state of Israel, to anti-semitism, is just too convenient isn’t it??
We cannot permit that the terrible holocaust the Jewish suffered, the crimes committed by Nazis (and world indifference, and support of European fascism), be a blanket justification of injustices committed by Israel’s Zionist expansionism against Palestinians.
Surely the world famous Oxford University is not going to indulge the witch hunters in this endeavour to discredit an honourable man such as Ken Loach is it? Surely it’s not going to risk its world wide reputation for first rate intellectual thought and learning is it? If it denies allowing Ken Loach to deliver his lecture but has allowed Tommy Robinson to deliver his Oxford University is on a very slippery slope downhill. What is the university afraid of? What pressure is being placed on the university to do this and by whom? It appears very much a political question does it not? Oxford University knows the truth that Ken Loach hasn’t got an anti Semitic bone in his body so should this witch hunt come to pass and Ken Loach is refused by Oxford it will express without doubt the dire and very dangerous situation certain factions of our society are preparing for this country and its people.
I’m with Ken
Zionist facist state and its betrayal of it people who walked before them, shame on you. I had a very poor education and even I am aware that Oxford must be under political our financial muscle to try and stop this, stand up and expose them. This is farcical on Oxford behalf that they can give Tommy Robinson a pulpit to preach from and are backing this, I stand by ken Loach
It does a disservice to the Jewish people to label any criticism of the state of Israel as antisemitism. I stand with Ken and the people of Palestine. Shame on Oxford.
I agree with you totally. Someone doesn’t want the truth about Isreal to be known. Or could it be with brown envelops. This is exactly what happened to the activist Jackie Walker.
With Ken Loach. Call out the Apartheid state of Israel.
Do explain precisely why Israel is an apartheid country.
If you cared there are countless intelligent explanations and critiques. But one assumes you have a role to troll.
This is a frightening reminder of the past when the world fought another insufferable regime that threatened to stifle and destroy another culture. We cannot allow misguided political hatred to suppress the innocent cultural freedoms we enjoy.
I’d stand with Ken Loach anywhere and I rhink the current definition of anti-Semitism is ridiculous.
I stand with Ken .
I stand with Ken
We stand with ken loach
Is he directly supporting Hamas or is he encouraging and supporting violence and hatred against any of Israeli people? No? Allow him to speak.
Signing and sharing through Equity.
I stand with Ken
I stand with Ken
Decent and principled men and women: Dianne Abbott, Ken Loach, Jeremy Corbyn relentlessly smeared or gagged by a savage media and mendacious campaign of surpression.
Silencing Ken Loach is pathetic and morally bankrupt. He is a good man.
Apartheid was wrong when it was happening in South Africa and it’s wrong now it’s happening in Palestine.
Any violence, be it civilian or military, needs to be condemned whether its by the Israeli state or anyone else. Ken Loach has for long time shown how those who are in desperate or downtrodden need to be defended and helped. He is an esteemed Oxford Alumni and his voice should never be silenced.
We need men & women with Ken Loach’s courage now, more than ever. I am with Ken!
We stand with Ken too
Ken stands with the oppressed. It stand with Ken against the oppressor cloaked in the guise of anti-racism.
This is outrageous and extremely worrying
standing with ken loach and all who struggle for tolerance, humanity and solidarity with oppressed peoples anywhere – including Palestinians.
Shame on Oxford.
I stand with Ken. Ken’s work stands for the right to fight the oppressor, and and right to fight for the oppressed. HIs work has no links to anti-Semitism.
I stand with Ken and the freedom to highlight the abuse and oppression of Palestinians.
Ken Loach est un très grand cinéaste, humaniste dont la justice à toujours été le leitmotiv.
Il est scandaleux de lui faire un procès d’intention. La politique israélienne à l’égard des palestiniens est un déni d’humanité et la dénoncer est le devoir de tous les êtres humains et particulièrement les cinéastes. l’Etat hébreu, n’en déplaisent aux sionistes de tout bord commet des crimes contre l’humanité et le cinéma est un moyen d’en témoigner. Critiquer le sionisme n’est pas de l’antisémitisme, c’est juste rappeler que c’est une idéologie coloniale d’un autre temps dont les années sont comptées !
Solidarité avec Ken Loach.
Un modeste cinéaste autodidacte réalisateur de “The tank and the olive tree, another story of Palestine”
Ken Loach has been an inspiration throughout my life, and particularly in my role as a social worker and academic. I stand with Ken.
je soutiens entièrement et sans retenue Ken Loach, son regard et son humanité
This is outrageous. Ken Loach is a beacon in the world. His films have touched and inspired me. We love you Ken.
I support ken loach….he is a true and real man standing up for what is right!
I stand with Ken.
Ok, it seems that fanatics like the right wing political hard liners in Israel, have tender skins. Our words have penetrated them where bullets cannot. They have a moral responsibility to other humans, of whatever creed or colour, and they dishonoured it.
A dead child is a dead child, whether or not they are Palestinian or Isreali. Or anything else.
The Isreali Government are behaving like the leaders of a Banana republic. Eventually there will be consequences for this. These will be very damaging to the whole region.
What is now needed is a Palastinian Martin Luther King. Also a sane and decent Isreali Government.
Do not hold your breath, while waiting.
What is now needed is peaceful and non-violent solidarity with the Palastinians, done by acts of considerable bravery and strong hearts, that show the World what is happening. The more non violent action is taken, including boycotts and demonstrations, the more the truth will emerge.
The other tyhing ids to try and open links to those in Israel that are not supporting violence against the Palastinians. There are many, even though they also have their problems. We have to speak to them, as well.